Head of his class: "Brideshead Revisted" hunk Matthew Goode speaks
by Robert Ordona
In his suite at the swanky Four Seasons hotel in downtown San Francisco, Matthew Goode greets Gay.com with an apologetic smile. "I hope you don't mind," the Brit says in his deep, rich voice as he gestures to the cigarette in his hand and then blows smoke out the half-open window. Most anybody would forgive the tall, dark and undeniably gorgeous actor his vices (which include not only chain-smoking but also "loving his drink," using foul language and picking up calls on his cell phone during media interviews). Anyone would forgive him, once he flops down on the couch next to you and leans in so close you can smell the mint and tobacco on his breath.
You have to remind yourself you're not on a fantasy date come true, even as his impossibly blue eyes drill into you. The actor is straight and you're in the same room with him because he's in town to promote his latest project, "Brideshead Revisted," a feature film based on the Evelyn Waugh novel and a remake of the acclaimed miniseries, in which Goode plays the main character, Charles, a role originated by Jeremy Irons in the BBC version of the story.
Charles, a young man of limited means, goes off the Oxford and meets Sebastian, "a rare peacock of a man" (in Goode's words). Sebastian is flamboyant, aristocratic and openly gay, and he introduces the lowly Charles to the wonders of Brideshead, his family's country estate. There, he comes into contact with the formidable matriarch of the family (played by the glorious Emma Thompson), Sebastian's captivating sister Julie (played by the striking Hayley Atwell) and an intoxicating new world that Charles craves to belong to.
Comfortably situated on the couch in the Four Seasons suite, Matthew is clearly excited by questions about his "Brideshead" role, but he's also more than happy to talk about other things, including his opinions about the state of "gay cinema," his willingness to be the next gay heartthrob and the role he would have wanted had he been offered a part in "Brokeback Mountain."
How is your portrayal of Charles different from Jeremy Irons'?
My first agent gave me the series as a gift five years ago, and I thought it was amazing and Jeremy was amazing. But I'm not Jeremy, and there aren't many similarities between us, besides that we're both hopelessly middle-class.
I can't really speak about Jeremy's portrayal, but I can say that I read the novel when I was 12 or so and thought that Charles was clearly unlikable -- he was so reactionary and judgmental -- and it was my challenge to make him sympathetic somehow. I hope I succeeded.
Do you think Charles was in love with Sebastian?
I think that's a question Charles might ask himself. Obviously Sebastian is in love with Charles in a romantic way, and there's definitely a beautiful love between them, but I think much of Charles' attraction to Sebastian stems from the loneliness they have in common.
Life is not cut and dry -- that's one of the major points of the film. There are gray areas. I've been in the position where I've found a great friendship with another boy and he suddenly gets a girlfriend and I've felt jealousy because the girl has taken my pal away. In a situation like this, it's normal for you to question your sexuality. Why is it that I'm jealous? Is it because I'm gay? It's clear that there's a deep love that men can feel with other men, and sometimes it's hard to define. I'm happy this film captured that ambiguity.
What are your feelings about how gay relationships have been portrayed in film?
It's evolved quite a bit, hasn't it? Early on, gay relationships in mainstream film were implied but never completely expressed. Even "Midnight Cowboy," which I found startling and moving, didn't really explore the sensuality of the gay experience.
Then in recent years we've had films like "Brokeback Mountain" -- a love story that explored the tragic relationship between two men. When I saw it, I thought, It's about time we had films like this one, which brought us two men faced with a situation in which at least one of them hadn't the ability to define the relationship and what it meant to him. It's about the tortures of love and the loss of love, but ultimately it's about love. I think "Brideshead" is similar in this respect. Tragedy hits you deeper. It unleashes you in an unexpected way.
Speaking of "Brokeback," which role would you have liked to play in the film?
I don't know! I'm hardly as handsome as Jake [Gyllenhaal], but I think I might have liked to play Ennis. Heath [Ledger] was quite broad [physically] and I don't think I have the raw masculinity that he exuded. But either would have been a lovely role, of course. And working with someone like Ang Lee is a dream.
I do find it strange that in this day there are some actors who take the position that they can't take this-or-that gay role because their fan base wouldn't like it. I say to them, Shut up! Why would I give a ****? A good script is a good script. But I count myself lucky because my mother always had gay friends and when I went to university and studied drama I found myself with a lot of close gay friends, so acceptance came naturally to me. Love is love. If people want to be happy, then ****ing let them. Whose business is it anyway?
You worked closely with Emma Thompson in this film. What was that like?
[Yells at the top of his lungs] She is
amazing! She's a ****ing national treasure, so you can't help but meet her with your hands sweating. I mean, she's highly intelligent, she's won three Oscars, she's incredibly talented and she's loved by an entire society. But after you meet her she's like a naughty auntie -- magnetic and flirty and really out there. And [Matthew leans in even closer and whispers] she loves her drink. She loves it all -- wine and gin-and-tonic and even a shot now and again.
So, what do you think? Are you ready to become the next heartthrob to all the gays?
I
wish I were that kind of material. I don't know! I mean, I'm 30 now, so I might be getting too old to start courting any audience as a sex symbol, But to be liked by anybody or group is very flattering. I hope people will come to see my films because of the quality of my work, but if they come to appreciate other aspects of me, then great -- it's a happy day.
From planetout.com
Thanks for the lovely pics
